3D Time‐resolved contrast‐enhanced MR DSA: Advantages and tradeoffs

The 3D TRICKS method for contrast‐enhanced, time‐resolved MR DSA has been recently described. In this paper, computer simulations are used to investigate the relative frame rate, temporal window, artery‐vein temporal separation, contrast‐to‐noise ratio, and spatial resolution of TRICKS and conventional scans for breath‐hold and non‐breath‐hold applications. For non‐breath‐hold applications, TRICKS can be coofigured to provide increased CNR or spatial resolution at an increased frame rate, but with a longer temporal window when compared with a series of conventional scans in which the central portion of k‐space is sampled at the same rate as for the TRICKS scans. For breath‐hold applications, TRICKS typically provides three images with 75% of the conventional single acquisition spatial resolution and is more tolerant of variations in contrast curve shape within the field of view.